Vitality Stories
an interview with
Artist Michael Michaud
MIchael Michaud, photo provided by Michael Michaud Jewelry
The Reason
To learn from someone else, we need only to ask them about their experiences, and that’s the purpose of the Vitality Stories Interviews. I’m not writing the memoirs for artist, Michael Michaud, but I discovered his work while I was on a four-month road trip and, unbeknownst to him, he inspired me to change. Continue reading
Vitality Stories
Leona Beck
The Best Way To Meet Your Parents
Sometimes it takes two
If you really want to get to know your parents, or a loved one, write their memoirs.
My mom, Bonnie, and I wrote her memoirs and the experience changed the way I think about her as a person. Before Memoirs (BM) she was my imperfect mother. But today, I think of her as a woman who was navigating her way through life, in a different era, making choices that resulted in pride, laughter, tears, or regret. I catch myself comparing my life at forty-four years old to what she was doing when she was forty-four, and every single time I think, whew, I’m so glad I’m not in those shoes. (If I was, I would have eight kids with a ninth on the way, a troubled marriage, a pile of bills, and I’d be struggling with undiagnosed bipolar disorder.) I also learned to accept that her perception is her reality and this makes me more patient when our collective memories or experiences don’t add up.
What I’m trying to say is writing your parent’s memoirs might be one of the best gifts you’ll ever give to yourself. It will be a different gift for each person. In my case, it was forgiveness.
But where to start? How to start? There are many books available on how to write memoirs. I’m sure my process will continue to improve, but for those of you who are thinking about this worthwhile project, here are the steps I take with each of my clients. Continue reading
Vitality Stories
photo by Gretchen LeMay Photography
How To Pay Off Debt With Heart
Sometimes it takes a village
In Tiger Drive, Carrie Sloan is seventeen and knows college is her only way out of her neighborhood and away from her toxic parents and absent, older siblings. She is conflicted about leaving her two little brothers behind, but believes breaking free from the family mold is the best thing she can do for them. But even without the family’s secrets and choices complicating her every move, Carrie won’t be able to pursue her education without financial aid and she is determined to write a winning scholarship essay.
While Tiger Drive is fiction, I can relate to Carrie and the obstacles she faces and I drew from personal feelings to write her. At seventeen, I was a senior in high school and supporting myself with two jobs after school and on the weekends. If not for a Pell Grant and a generous Continue reading
Vitality Stories
Lesson #6
You‘re never too old for field trips, trikes, and milkshakes
I recently visited my mother in Carson City, Nevada. I hadn’t been there in almost two years, but after moving from the east coast and living on the road for the past four months, the road, actually a plane, landed me in Northern Nevada.
Thanks to technology, I’d been in touch with my mom on a regular basis, but now that I was going to be in town for 10 days, I had a laundry list of things to help her with in an effort to give my local siblings ‘serving on the ground’ temporary respite from meeting Mom’s needs. I’d be doing her shopping, cleaning, defrosting her dormitory freezer…you get the picture.
I was also in town to see friends and take my first headshots, but my mom was anxious to see me and I have the cell phone log to prove it. My visit would be a treat because I had promised Continue reading
My Favorite Minute
“It’s for little kids, who are afraid. It’s a sweet little book.” Kathie Lee Gifford, Kathie Lee & Hoda’s Favorite Things, TODAY (May 25, 2015)
I am over the moon to share that Kathie Lee Gifford shared my first children’s book, I’M GOING TO THE DOCTOR?!, on TODAY.
What a ride! I appreciate everyone’s support and enthusiasm. People rock!
It’s here!
I’M GOING TO THE DOCTOR?!
A little over a year ago I decided to tap into my rainy day account to follow anything but a rainy day dream. I quit my job, moved to the East Coast with my supportive boyfriend, set up my writing room, and pulled a 2011 draft of Tiger Drive out of a box. Thanks to feedback from a few talented peers, Tiger Drive is complete and I am now querying agents. Fingers tightly crossed.
In the meantime, I quickly learned I needed to build an author’s platform and social presence — Egads! I jumped into Dan Blank’s Get Read course where I explored my audience, goals, and identified my content for a website that didn’t exist. As you know, it does now. As a bonus to the class, I made new friends and gained a few subscribers from the start.
All of a sudden, I recognized synergy between my creative writing and my ghostwriting. On one hand, I’d finished Tiger Drive, but on the other hand I kept hearing from my seniors, “I wish I would have finished this…I wish I would have finished that…” And every time I heard someone dish this sage advice, instead of patting myself on the back and saying “You did it, Teri. You wrote Tiger Drive,” I would think about this thick padded envelope in my closet containing Continue reading
Vitality Stories
A Love Letter to Me@25
Inspired by the ladies I am meeting, I wrote a series of love letters to my twenty year-old self (and therefore the twenty year old ladies of today) recommending small things I could have done differently twenty years ago that would improve my health and well-being today. I know. I know. Someone probably gave me the same advice and I never followed it and the youngsters of today might ignore me, too, but sharing is caring! Hindsight is free for the listener, or in this case, the reader.
I joined with The Indie Chicks, a team who promotes self-empowerment, drive, and independence, to publish the first letter, “Dear Boobies: I’m Sorry I Took You for Granted.” Please feel free to share with the lovely ladies in your life.
Until next time, take care of you!
Vitality Stories
Interview #2
Bonnie, 2nd from left, WCCO Radio, March of Dimes Telethon
Hello, My Name Is Bonnie
Why, What, How
Most of the senior citizens I’ve met yearn to be an example of success and happiness. They don’t relish the idea of anyone making their same mistakes. Often times, they don’t always know WHY they made a certain choice, but they almost always know WHAT they would do differently given the chance, and they always know HOW they want to be remembered. Continue reading
Vitality Stories Lesson #3
Helping elders with their memoirs is a trip in time. On one hand, I’m enrolled in Life 101, learning valuable lessons that I can apply to my own existence, relationships, and choices—a veritable checklist of Do’s & Don’ts for a Happy Life. On the other hand, I spend A LOT of time digging around in someone else’s past, and before I know it BANG!—something happens Continue reading
Vitality Stories Interview #1
Hello, My Name is Teri
This weekend, I made an adult , risky and cringe-worthy, decision. Sometimes my newsletter will cover interviews with Vitality Stories worthy folks. Each guest will answer the same questions, which at times, are very personal. I decided Continue reading